Clark Construction Turns Away Wings Delegation

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

After agreeing to meet with striking workers at Wings Enterprises Inc., Clark Construction Group – the general contractor who hired Wings employees to work on a major project in Foggy Bottom – has done a backflip and reneged on their promise. “Despite repeated requests from Wings strikers, Clark has refused to sit down and come to a resolution,” reports DC Jobs with Justice’s Ruth Castel-Branco, telling Union City that the general contractor recently turned away a delegation of faith and community supporters who tried to meet with Clark on Tuesday. “Clark has a moral obligation to facilitate a resolution to this strike,” Rev. Graham of Grace Episcopal Church told Clark during the delegation’s aborted visit. “General contractors that profit from the mistreatment of workers must be held accountable.” For more than four months, workers at Wings - which performs concrete reinforcement on George Washington University's Square 54 project for general contractor Clark Construction - have been striking, alleging low pay, lack of health insurance and drinking water, and verbal abuse from management ("Stand With Us And Fight" Say Fired Ironworkers, 2/18/2010 Union City). “It was shameful to witness how disrespectful company representatives were towards the strikers,” added Linda Leaks from Empower DC, who also participated in the delegation. “As recipients of DC government projects, of tax payer money, they need to be held to account. This is not what economic development should look like.” Click here to sign an appeal demanding Justice at Wings, or call 202-974-8281 for more information. - photo: at a February rally and vigil for striking Wings ironworkers in Foggy Bottom; photo by Adam Wright